Community Enhancement

Fee Began in March 2016 Utility Billing Cycle

A monthly fee to fund expanded community cleanup and beautification efforts in the city is now applied to City utility customers, beginning in the March billing cycle.

The fee, which was approved by City Council in December 2015, is $1 per month for residential utility customers and $5 for business utility customers. City staff members estimate the fee raised $375,000 during fiscal year 2016, which began October 1, 2015, and will generate $500,000 per year in following years.

Mayoral Consent

"This is a new funding source to enhance community pride that will service many areas of San Marcos-neighborhoods, parks and river, surface streets and medians, highway corridors, and downtown," said Mayor Daniel Guerrero. "The clean community fee supports the City Councils' goal to beautify and enhance the quality of place for San Marcos."

Funding Use

The money raised by the fee will be used to fund recurring community enhancement and beautification activities as well as 1-time programs which include:

Matching fund program for Dumpster enclosures-the City will match up to 50% of the cost to bring Dumpster enclosures up to code

Mowing and trash pick-up-increases the number of trash pick-ups and mowing along IH-35 and city right-of-ways, as well as in parks and other City common areas

Programs such as landscaping the median on Craddock Avenue and purchases of a new street sweeper for Downtown, additional recycling and trash containers for parks, and supplies and equipment for a neighborhood beautification trailer

Several other cities throughout the country, including Austin and Fort Worth, have adopted similar fees to help fund community enhancement and beautification projects and have experienced great success.